Conflict Examples | One-Round Multiple Action Conflict Between Two Characters >

The most basic and most common sort of conflict is a quick head-to-head between two characters. In the example, Michelle is the GM, and she has two players, Jason and Krista.

Jason’s character Eckhardt has had it with the corrupt mine owner, and he gets a gun from his car’s glove compartment and marches up to the mine owner’s trailer. Krista’s character Lucy steps in front of him.

Krista: Lucy says, “You’re not going in there with that gun.”

Jason: “Oh, yes, I am.”

Michelle: OK. This is definitely a conflict. Jason, what’s your goal?

Jason: I’m taking that gun with me when I go inside.

Michelle: Cool. Krista?

Krista: He’s going to give me the gun.

Michelle: All right. That’s simple enough. Allocate your tokens, and we’ll see whether Eckhardt gets to keep his gun.

Both Jason and Krista allocate their tokens secretly. Jason is using his Will of 4, plus Negotiator of 3, and puts all but one of his 7 action tokens in. Krista uses her Wits of 3, plus her Student of 2, and puts all but one of her 7 action tokens in as well.

Michelle: Ready? OK, let’s reveal. Jason, what’s your action?

Jason: Eckhardt is a tough negotiator, so I’m using that, plus his will to get Lucy to step aside. Will 4 plus Negotiator 3 plus 6 action tokens is 13.

Krista: Lucy is going to appeal to reason and try to talk Eckhardt out of this. She has a Wits of 3, plus her Student of 2, and I put up 6 action tokens, too. My total is only 11.

Michelle: All right, that means Eckhardt is up by 2: a success. He gets to keep the gun. Jason, how does this go down?

Jason: Eckhardt says, “Get out of my way, Lucy. This guy has refused to budge, and two people are dead because of it. He’s going to shut the mine down once and for all.” Eckhardt glares into Lucy’s eyes, his resolve is clear.

Krista: “Eckhardt, you’re going to get arrested brandishing that thing. What if he has a gun, too? This can only end badly, you know that.”

Jason: With a curt shake of his head, Eckhardt brushes past her. She knows she can’t change his mind.

Krista: “Dammit!”

Michelle: I think Lucy’s shaken by this. Spend an action token, Krista.